the middle east 367In 667,^33 envoys from Fu-lin presented theriaca^34 (Chiu T’ang shu
198:16b).
In 701, envoys from Fu-lin were received at the T’ang court (Chiu
T’ang shu 198:16b).
In 711, envoys from Fu-lin presented regional objects ( Ts’e-fu
yüan-kuei p.5026).
In the 1st month (Jan./Feb.) of 719,^35 the ruler of Fu-lin presented
through a great Tokharian chief two lions and two goat antelopes.
Later that year, a Priest of Great Virtue from Fu-lin offered gifts (Chiu
T’ang shu 198:16b; Ts’e-fu yüan-kuei p.5027)
In the 5th month (June/July) of 742, a Priest of Great Virtue sent
by the king of Fu-lin was received at the T’ang court (Chiu T’ang shu
198:16b;Ts’e-fu yüan-kuei p.5029).
In the 4th month (May/June) of 1081,^36 chiefs sent by the king of
Fu-lin to the Sung court presented horse trappings, swords, and real
pearls. They stated that their country was extremely cold^37 (Wen-hsien
t’ung-k’ao 339:57a).
On Mar.3, 1091, envoys from Fu-lin offered gifts. On May 10,
Emperor Che-tsung presented the king with 200 bolts of silk, silver
pitchers, garments, and a golden belt (Sung shih 17:5a; 490:24a; Sung
hui-yao kao, chüan 10,364; Wen-hsien t’ung-k’ao 339:57a).
On Feb.1, 1092, envoys from the Fu-lin State offered gifts (Hsü
Tzu-chih t’ung-chien ch’ang-pien p.4387).
The question arises as to how the envoys from Fu-lin traveled to
China. Luxury articles were not bulky and could be carried long
distances by land or sea. In 719, Fu-lin made use of a Tokharian
intermediary to present lions and antelopes. It means that this mission
was organized in West Turkestan on behalf of Fu-lin and proceeded
from there. Using the criteria suggested for the Arabs, the missions
of 742 (5th month) and 1081 (4th month) should also have travelled
by land. For the rest, no certainty is possible.
(^33) By T’ang hui-yao 99:23b dated 666.
(^34) According to Schafer, Golden Peaches, p.184, a truly universal antidote.
(^35) By T’ang hui-yao 99:23b dated 1st month ((Jan./Feb.) of 722. According to
the same entry, the Priest of Great Virtue arrived in the 4th month (Apr./May) of
that year.
(^36) Sung hui-yao kao, chüan 10,364, dates the reception of the mission Nov.9.
(^37) Suffering from cold is a subjective matter. For the local people of Syria, their
winters could feel cold.